Apple files for technology that could help people with hearing disabilities

Americas Jul 20, 2012

AppleInsider has discovered a couple of patent applications that may make Apple devices helpful to people with hearing disabilities.

The applications published this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and discovered by AppleInsider are entitled Social Network for Sharing a Hearing Aid Setting and Remotely Updating a Hearing Aid Profile.

Apple’s proposed networking system would rely on a user’s portable device, like an iPhone, that is connected to their wireless hearing aid. (Image credits: FPO, AppleInsider)

They both describe smart hearing aids, expected to complement the “Made for iPhone” hearing aid support, describe hardware accessories that will wirelessly connect to tablets and phones, including the iPhone 4S.

More than just an individual accessory, Apple envisions a system where people with hearing disabilities could communicate with each other and share configuration settings, or store them on computers, TVs or other devices.

“With the advent of programmable hearing aids whose signal processing can be at least partially modified, what is desired is providing a hearing aid user the ability to modify the audio processing of the programmable hearing aid in the context for which the hearing aid will be used,” the filing reads.

Source: AppleInsider

By Aqeel Qureshi